A woman with long, wavy red hair is sitting at a desk, smiling and writing in a notepad with a pen. She is wearing a green button-up shirt and using a silver laptop. There is a cup on the desk and a bookshelf in the background.

Nikki Ford, Registered Psychologist

I began my psychology career in the Australian Army, and now specialise in working with veterans, current serving personnel, and first responders. I work with those experiencing chronic pain, sleep disturbance, alcohol use, depression, anxiety, grief, carer stress, ADHD, trauma, and the complex systemic and life transition challenges that are central to the military experience.

My approach is practical and structured, grounded in collaboration and transparency. I place strong emphasis on psychoeducation — helping clients understand the 'why' behind their experiences — alongside clear goal-setting, regular progress monitoring, and practical between-session strategies that support real-world change.

I draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, and other evidence-based strategies, adapting my approach to each individual's needs, goals, and pace.

From my home on the Sunshine Coast, I work in private practice via telehealth, welcoming DVA, Medicare, and private clients across Australia. Clients can expect a purposeful, respectful, and non-judgmental space where they are active participants in their own progress.

Outside of work, I enjoy outdoor adventures with my family, camping, travelling, and gardening

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Who I work with

  • Veterans, first responders, and ex-serving military personnel face a unique set of challenges — including occupational trauma, identity shifts following service, physical health impacts, and navigating complex systems such as DVA and workers compensation. Nikki brings firsthand understanding of the military context, having begun her own career in the Army, and is experienced in working with the specific presentations, language, and lived realities of this community. Support is direct, practical, and free from jargon — designed for people who value getting things done.

  • Trauma can result from a single event or from prolonged exposure to difficult and distressing experiences. It can show up as intrusive memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, or difficulty feeling safe. Support is paced and collaborative, focusing on understanding trauma responses, building a stable foundation, and working through traumatic experiences in a way that feels manageable. Evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and trauma-focused strategies are drawn on depending on individual needs and readiness.

  • Chronic stress and burnout can develop gradually — often going unrecognised until functioning at work, at home, or in relationships begins to break down. Support focuses on identifying the drivers of stress, rebuilding sustainable routines, reconnecting with values, and developing practical skills to manage demands without depleting personal resources.

  • Depression can look different for everyone — low mood, loss of motivation, withdrawal from life, or simply feeling flat. Support focuses on understanding what is maintaining low mood, rebuilding engagement with meaningful activities, and developing skills to shift unhelpful thinking patterns.

  • Navigating parenting pressures, family relationships and emotional wellbeing.

  • Living with chronic pain affects every aspect of life — sleep, mood, relationships, and sense of self. Support focuses on understanding the relationship between pain and psychology, developing practical coping strategies, and rebuilding quality of life alongside ongoing physical symptoms.

  • Poor sleep is one of the most common and disruptive challenges for veterans and ex-serving personnel. Support draws on evidence-based approaches including CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I) and relaxation-based strategies to improve sleep quality, reduce hyperarousal, and establish sustainable sleep patterns.

  • Alcohol and substance use often develop as a way of managing pain, stress, or difficult emotions. Support is non-judgmental and practical, exploring the function of use, building motivation for change, and developing alternative strategies at a pace that suits each individual.

  • Whether anxiety shows up as constant worry, physical tension, avoidance, or a sense of being on edge, support involves understanding the anxiety cycle, developing practical regulation skills, and gradually building confidence to re-engage with avoided situations and experiences.

  • Grief extends beyond bereavement to include the loss of identity, physical capacity, relationships, and purpose that often accompanies military transition and life change. Support provides space to process loss at an individual pace, while building a path forward.

  • Caring for a family member with complex needs is rewarding but often exhausting and isolating. Support focuses on recognising and managing the emotional weight of caring, setting sustainable limits, and ensuring carers have space to attend to their own wellbeing.

  • ADHD in adults — particularly when undiagnosed until later in life — can affect organisation, emotional regulation, relationships, and self-esteem. Support focuses on practical strategies tailored to how each individual's mind works, building on strengths rather than focusing on deficits.

  • Leaving the military, retiring, navigating health changes, or facing major relationship shifts can disrupt identity and direction. Support helps individuals make sense of where they are, reconnect with values, and build a meaningful life beyond the transition.

  • Navigating DVA, NDIS, WorkCover, and legal processes can be a significant and prolonged source of stress. Support helps individuals manage the psychological impact of system-related uncertainty, build distress tolerance, and maintain momentum in their lives while external processes unfold.

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